If he did, these domestic activities were...
If he did, these domestic activities were privately performed, and he presented to the world the appearance of a careless and hospitable millionaire strolling into his own drawing-room with the detachment of an invited guest, and saying: "My wife's gloxinias are a marvel, aren't they? I believe she gets them out from KewBeaufort's secret, people were agreed, was the way he carried things offIt was all very well to whisper that he had been "helped" to leave England by the international banking-house in which he had been employed; he carried off that rumour as easily as the rest—though New York's business conscience was no less sensitive than its moral standard—he carried everything before him, and all New York into his drawing-rooms, and for over twenty years now people had said they were "going to the Beauforts'" with the same tone of security as if they had said they were going to MrsManson Mingott's, and with the added satisfaction of knowing they would get hot canvas-back ducks and vintage wines, instead of tepid Veuve Clicquot without a year and warmed-up croquettes from PhiladelphiaBeaufort, then, had as usual appeared in her box just before the Jewel Song; and when, again as usual, she rose at the end of the third act, drew her opera cloak about her lovely shoulders, and disappeared, New York knew that meant that half an hour later the ball would begin

The Beaufort house was one that New Yorkers were proud to show to foreigners, especially on the night of the annual ballThe Beauforts had been among the first people in New York to own their gold gucci watches own red velvet carpet and have it rolled down the steps by their own footmen, under their own awning, instead of hiring it with the supper and the ball-room chairsThey had also inaugurated the custom of letting the ladies take their cloaks off in the hall, instead of shuffling up to the hostess's bedroom and recurling their hair with the aid of the gas-burner; Beaufort was understood to have said that he supposed all his wife's friends had maids who saw to it that they were properly coiffees when they left home

Then the house had been boldly planned with a ball-room, so that, instead of squeezing through a narrow passage to get to it (as at the Chiverses') one marched solemnly down a vista of enfiladed drawing-rooms (the sea-green, the crimson and the bouton d'or), seeing from afar the many-candled lustres reflected in the polished parquetry, and beyond that the depths of a conservatory where camellias and tree-ferns arched their costly foliage over seats of black and gold bamboo

Newland Archer, as became a young man of his position, strolled in somewhat lateHe had left his overcoat with the silk-stockinged footmen (the stockings were one of Beaufort's few fatuities), had dawdled a while in the library hung with Spanish leather and furnished with Buhl and malachite, where a few men were chatting and putting on their dancing-gloves, and had finally joined the line of guests whom MrsBeaufort was receiving on the threshold of the crimson drawing-room

Archer was distinctly nervousHe had not gone back to his club after the Opera (as the young chanel watch j12 white bloods usually did), but, the night being fine, had walked for some distance up Fifth Avenue before turning back in the direction of the Beauforts' houseHe was definitely afraid that the Mingotts might be going too far; that, in fact, they might have Granny Mingott's orders to bring the Countess Olenska to the ball

From the tone of the club box he had perceived how grave a mistake that would be; and, though he was more than ever determined to "see the thing through," he felt less chivalrously eager to champion his betrothed's cousin than before their brief talk at the Opera

Wandering on to the bouton d'or drawing-room (where Beaufort had had the audacity to hang "Love Victorious," the much-discussed nude of Bouguereau) Archer found MrsWelland and her daughter standing near the ball-room doorCouples were already gliding over the floor beyond: the light of the wax candles fell on revolving tulle skirts, on girlish heads wreathed with modest blossoms, on the dashing aigrettes and ornaments of the young married women's coiffures, and on the glitter of highly glazed shirt-fronts and fresh glace gloves

Miss Welland, evidently about to join the dancers, hung on the threshold, her lilies-of-the-valley in her hand (she carried no other bouquet), her face a little pale, her eyes burning with a candid excitementA group of young men and girls were gathered about her, and there was much hand-clasping, laughing and pleasantry on which MrsWelland, standing slightly apart, shed the beam of a qualified approvalIt was evident that Miss Welland was in the act of gucci purses announcing her engagement, while her mother affected the air of parental reluctance considered suitable to the occasion

Archer paused a momentIt was at his express wish that the announcement had been made, and yet it was not thus that he would have wished to have his happiness knownTo proclaim it in the heat and noise of a crowded ball-room was to rob it of the fine bloom of privacy which should belong to things nearest the heartHis joy was so deep that this blurring of the surface left its essence untouched; but he would have liked to keep the surface pure tooIt was something of a satisfaction to find that May Welland shared this feelingHer eyes fled to his beseechingly, and their look said: "Remember, we're doing this because it's right

No appeal could have found a more immediate response in Archer's breast; but he wished that the necessity of their action had been represented by some ideal reason, and not simply by poor Ellen OlenskaThe group about Miss Welland made way for him with significant smiles, and after taking his share of the felicitations he drew his betrothed into the middle of the ball-room floor and put his arm about her waist

"Now we shan't have to talk," he said, smiling into her candid eyes, as they floated away on the soft waves of the Blue Danube

She made no answerHer lips trembled into a smile, but the eyes remained distant and serious, as if bent on some ineffable vision"Dear," Archer whispered, pressing her to him: it was borne in on him that the first hours of being engaged, even if spent in a ball-room, had in them cartier watches something grave and sacramentalWhat a new life it was going to be, with this whiteness, radiance, goodness at one's side!

The dance over, the two, as became an affianced couple, wandered into the conservatory; and sitting behind a tall screen of tree-ferns and camellias Newland pressed her gloved hand to his lips

"You see I did as you asked me to," she said

"Yes: I couldn't wait," he answered smilingAfter a moment he added: "Only I wish it hadn't had to be at a ball She met his glance comprehendingly"But after all—even here we're alone together, aren't we?"

"Oh, dearest—always!" Archer cried

Evidently she was always going to understand; she was always going to say the right thingThe discovery made the cup of his bliss overflow, and he went on gaily: "The worst of it is that I want to kiss you and I can't As he spoke he took a swift glance about the conservatory, assured himself of their momentary privacy, and catching her to him laid a fugitive pressure on her lipsTo counteract the audacity of this proceeding he led her to a bamboo sofa in a less secluded part of the conservatory, and sitting down beside her broke a lily-of-the-valley from her bouquetShe sat silent, and the world lay like a sunlit valley at their feet

"Did you tell my cousin Ellen?" she asked presently, as if she spoke through a dream

He roused himself, and remembered that he had not done soSome invincible repugnance to speak of such things to the strange foreign woman had checked the words on his lips

"No—I hadn't the chance after all," he said, fibbing chanel classic bags hast